Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - citizen

 noun  Etymology: Middle English citizein, from Anglo-French citezein, alteration of citeien, from cite city  Date: 14th century  1. an inhabitant of a city or town; especially one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman  2.  a. a member of a state  b. a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it  3. a civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state  • ~ly adjective Synonyms:  ~, subject, national mean a person owing allegiance to and entitled to the protection of a sovereign state. ~ is preferred for one owing allegiance to a state in which sovereign power is retained by the people and sharing in the political rights of those people the rights of a free ~. subject implies allegiance to a personal sovereign such as a monarch the king's subjects. national designates one who may claim the protection of a state and applies especially to one living or traveling outside that state American nationals working in the Middle East.